Thursday, May 7, 2009

Commentary: "China's Battle Over the Right to Criticize" (in Far Eastern Economic Review)

An essay by Joshua Rosenzweig, Dui Hua’s senior manager of research based in Hong Kong, has been published in the May 2009 issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review. Entitled “China's Battle Over the Right to Criticize,” the essay analyzes cases of Chinese citizens charged with defamation after criticizing local government officials. It also explores broader questions about the legal provisions in such criminal cases and the current state of Chinese society and government leadership that is influencing the exercise of free speech.

A Human Rights Journal post from April 30 provides a related commentary—and translation of opinion pieces by Chinese scholars—on the specific case of Wang Shuai, who was charged with libel and detained for eight days in March after posting a satirical criticism online of officials from his hometown.